Mouthguard system for protecting soft tissue

Abstract

A mouthguard system can be configured to provide protection to the soft tissues surrounding the mouth. A mouthguard system can include a front lip protection portion, a teeth engagement portion connected to and positioned posterior to the front lip protection portion, and a channel defined within a base layer of the teeth engagement portion. A bite layer is disposed within the channel having a durometer less than other portions of the mouthguard system. The mouthguard optionally includes one or more breathing channels and one or more flavorants.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A mouthguard system comprising:
 a front lip protection portion;   a teeth engagement portion connected to and positioned posterior to the front lip protection portion, the teeth engagement portion including a base layer formed of a first material having a first durometer and defining a channel; and   a bite layer formed of a second material having a second durometer that is lower than the first durometer, the bite layer being disposed within the channel.   
     
     
         2 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the front lip protection portion and the teeth engagement portion are formed of the first material. 
     
     
         3 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein a value of the second durometer divided by a value of the first durometer is about 85% or less. 
     
     
         4 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the second material and the first material are both low density thermoplastic rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the first material includes an injection moldable thermoplastic rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the first material includes a composite of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate and a rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the second material includes a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate having at least about 33 weight percent vinyl acetate within the copolymer. 
     
     
         8 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the second material is selected having a durometer sufficiently low to accommodate and protect a user's teeth without a previous molding step. 
     
     
         9 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the first material includes a flavorant. 
     
     
         10 . The mouthguard of  claim 9 , wherein the first material includes a flavorant that provides sweetness. 
     
     
         11 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the first material includes at least two flavorants, with one of the flavorants providing sweetness. 
     
     
         12 . The mouthguard of  claim 1 , wherein the second material includes a flavorant. 
     
     
         13 . The mouthguard of  claim 12 , wherein the second material includes a flavorant that provides sweetness. 
     
     
         14 . The mouthguard of  claim 12 , wherein the second material includes at least two flavorants, with one of the flavorants providing sweetness. 
     
     
         15 . A mouthguard system comprising:
 a front lip protection portion, having a first overall height, and including at least one segment selected from an upper lip protection segment and a lower lip protection segment;   a teeth engagement portion including a base layer having a first durometer and a bite layer having a second durometer that is less than the first durometer, the teeth engagement portion having a second overall height less than the first overall height and being connected to and positioned posterior to the front lip protection portion;   a first breathing channel having an anterior opening and a posterior opening and extending from the front lip protection portion to the teeth engagement portion.   
     
     
         16 . The mouthguard of  claim 15 , wherein the base layer defines a channel within the teeth engagement portion and the bite layer is disposed within the channel. 
     
     
         17 . The mouthguard of  claim 15 , further comprising a second breathing channel having an anterior opening and a posterior opening and extending from the front lip protection portion to the teeth engagement portion. 
     
     
         18 . The mouthguard of  claim 15 , wherein the posterior openings of the breathing channels are positioned to correspond to opposite sides of a tongue of the user. 
     
     
         19 . The mouthguard of  15 , wherein the at least one segment is sized and shaped to fully cover a lip of a user. 
     
     
         20 . The mouthguard of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second materials includes a flavorant.